Six-Sigma Approach to Energy Management Planning

Most companies would like to reduce costs of providing goods and services while the government and society are pushing for more “green” practices. By developing an energy management plan, a company can find a systematic way to reduce energy usage and operating costs at the same time. This article presents a six-sigma based energy management planning procedure, focusing on five major steps: define, measure, analyze, improve, and control. An overview of the major energy-consuming equipment in manufacturing industries is provided. Different energy-saving opportunities are then investigated. The results from this research provide information and a clear understanding for establishing an energy management plan, which can be used as part of the ISO 50001 implementation.